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Why do they want the baby out by next Thursday? Because you are in pain? The reason your doc is pushing this date is not clear in your post. My first baby was breech, undetected until my 40 week appointment. They tried to do an ECV on her right then, but she would not budge. No wonder - she was born via c-section that day and weighed 10 lbs! My 2nd baby was also born via c-section, per my choice and my doc's recommendation. With the 2nd pregnancy my water actually broke before my scheduled c-section and they still did the c when I got to the hospital. So-- fear of going into labor with a breech baby should not be a reason to take a baby so early because they can always do the c, even if you do go into labor. My first c-section went very smooth and so did my recovery. My recovery went so smooth for that one because with only one baby, you can really take it easy. I had some post-op complications with my 2nd C (don't want to frighten you though) and that was living hell because I had the newborn and the 3 year old to deal with while I was trying to recover.

To answer your more specific questions - In my case, dh did not cut the cord but I do know people who have done it. My husband is a bit squeamish and although in his heart he would have loved to cut the cord, he knew that he was probably better off sitting with me by my head than by my gaping abdomen to cut the cord, risking fainting! About the catheter - it will stay in for about 24 hours or a little less. You will be on a morphine pump and not be able to get out of bed until the next morning, so you will need to remain catheterized. You can ask them to wait until the spinal has been administered before they insert the catheter. About holding the baby - my husband held the baby immediately and held her to me to kiss while I was still on the operating table. Then hubby went with baby to be cleaned up. As soon as I was sewn closed, I was reunited with my husband and baby in the recovery room and I was able to hold the baby immediately. I b___stfed both of my babies in the recovery room immediately after both c-sections.

I had a csection after 20 hours of labor (lack of progression). It was totally fine! When they decided to do a csection, I had been pushing for four hours, so I was kind of relieved that something was happening. The epidural did not hurt at all - just a small pinch. Then I was numb from just below my b___bs. They inserted a catheter, which I did not feel. Within minutes, my daughter was born nice and healthy and crying - it was phenomenal! My only regret is that I had to have my arms strapped down, but my dh was there to keep me distracted so it didn't bother me too much. I couldn't hold her until I was in recovery, but dh got to hold her close to me and it was pretty special :) Recovery was sore for me - it was very uncomfortable to get up and around, but the pain relievers they gave me helped a lot (just tylenol -not t3's- and advil). My dh was able to be home for the first few weeks, so luckily he was able to do a lot of the work around the house while I hobbled around :) Also, it didn't hurt to have the catheter removed at all. My incision healed nicely - don't count on wearing any prepregnancy clothes! Bring really, really, loose pants that are loose around the waist and underwear that is either granny style (sorry) or maternity style. ummm... what else? Oh - make sure you have dial soap to shower with - or a mild type of soap that won't irritate the incision. My first shower didn't hurt at all (I was worried that it would sting) Good luck and I hope everything goes well! Last thing, I was able to nurse her in the recovery room for 20 minutes with no problem

Hi ladies! Thanks for writing back. I need to stop doing so much research online...it's all scaring me...lol! My baby was measuring a week bigger the entire pregnancy and then all of a sudden, at 35w5d they measured him at 5 lbs 2 oz. Now, from what I have read, average size for his gestation is around 5 lbs 8 oz. So, big deal, he is a few oz less! AND the u/s tech kept complaining how hard it was to get any good measurements. So, how can they go on this? My dr said we could do an ECV, but he said it puts stress on the baby and can be painful and only works 50% of the time. He also said that if it did work, there is a high chance that he will flip back around to breech again during labor. I am only 5 ft tall (98 lbs pre-preggo) and weigh 125 now at 9 months preggo! He says that the baby seems to be stuck with his shoulder and head under and in my ribs and has no room to turn. He said if I were 4 or 5 inches taller with a longer torso, then there may be a chance. The reason he gave for having the section at 37 weeks was, why prolong it? He will be full-term and he said baby will do just fine. Trust me, I am still in shock and don't understand why he can't "bake" another week or two. So, I guess I just have to go with what he says...he's been monitoring me very closely with weekly NST's (due to BH contractions) and is very confident that the baby is perfectly fine and will fair perfect at 37 weeks. I hope he is right. My mind is still in the gutter...I've got that glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, he will turn in the next week and I could attempt a v____al. I know in my heart that it's not going to happen, but at least I am hanging on to that little bit of hope. I go in this Thursday for another u/s for a fluid check and NST and then again on Monday. I am in a little bit of pain (I mean it feels like my ribs are going to break when I sit forward), but nothing I can't handle for a few more weeks! Thank you ladies, so much, for sharing your stories with me. It helps to hear from other women, that they did it and are still alive an ok. Why do they need to keep the catheter in for 24 hours? I mean, it seems like after the numbness wears off, you could go on your own. I just know that when my baby and dh leave while I get sewn up, I'm going to cry like crazy! How did you make it through that? I guess I am thinking way to much into all of this, but I can't help it..lol! I've never had a major surgery! Keep us in your thoughts...I will keep you updated! :)

Boy do I remember the feeling of the head in the ribs! It will all be worth it when you hold your beautiful baby. Just tell yourself the bad stuff will be over in just an hour (as opposed to a long labor), and then you just have to focus on recovery. I'm not good with medical stuff and I was terrified of a C-section when my baby was breech too. I was so happy when I went to the doctor at 36 weeks and she had flipped, although still terrified about labor as it was my 1st baby. I went into labor right at 37 weeks and went immediately to the hospital because my water broke and it was really intense. I dilated from a 2 to a 10 and into the pushing phase in 30 minutes at the hospital - no epidural or even time for one - and as the baby was trying to come out they realized that she had flipped and was breach again. So- it was an emergency c-section for me. They even had to give me drugs to try to slow down the labor long enough to get me to the OR. The C-section was nothing compared to the 30 minutes before it. The spinal was wonderful. The C-section took less than 10 minutes and I didn't feel anything. I didn't have my arms tied down. I was holding my husband's hand. My husband did not want to cut the cord, but he could have. I did not get to hold or even touch my dd right away because they were really worried about whether she was injured from being stuck when I was in labor and they wanted to check her out (her bottom half was pretty bruised from trying to get out, but she was okay), but they did hold her up for me and then they checked her right next to me and I got to look at her face the whole time. Although I didn't get to hold her until I was in my room and about 10-15 minutes after she was born, we bonded just fine and my husband got to stay with her the whole time she was in a different room than me. (only 5-10 minutes) I didn't have a Morphine drip, but I did have some painkiller in the IV the first 12 hours. I was up walking around, putting make-up on and brushing my teeth less than 24 hours later. It did take me pretty much the whole 6 weeks to heal, although some people feel fine much faster, but I wouldn't say it was horrible. I took some mild pain medicine occasionally and some prescription ibuprofen the first 2 weeks. I definitely knew when I had overdone it, and it was frustrating that I did have to have dh do alot with the baby because I could not lift or carry her very easily. If you are going to b___stfeed, be sure you have a boppy. Also, Suzie is right about very loose elastic waist pants. I couldn't wear anything else for about 3 weeks.

Looks like we were posting at the same time. My baby and dh were both there when I was being sewn up. We left the OR at the same time, but the baby and dh went to the nursery where they cleaned the baby up and finished checking her before they brought her to my room. The catheter usually stays in for around 24 hours because 1) they won't take it out until they are positive you can get up and walk on your own ( it takes several hours to get the feeling completely back in your legs and lower body and you won't be in any big hurry to try to get up) and 2) because of the surgery your insides take a little bit to get going again.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the effect of surgery on your systems. They won't let you eat until you fart. Too funny!

Gavinsmom, I think you can push back a little bit on the 37 week thing and see what happens. I don't think the actual c-section itself is the concern here --- It's WHEN your doc wants to do it. Yes, some babies are full term and perfectly fine at that point but some need more time for lung development - so has your doc confirmed your baby's lung status? I had a friend who had a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks and wanted to go early but her doc said that he could not schedule it any earlier unless she wanted an amnio to confirm the lungs were developed. She of course did not want the amnio so she had to wait until 39 weeks. I was scheduled at 39 weeks and was so uncomfortable that I wanted them to do it earlier, but I was told that for insurance reasons they cannot do a routine scheduled c-section any earlier than 39 weeks. If you go into labor earlier, or if the baby or you are in danger earlier then that's another story. But I was told there were insurance reasons why you couldn't just schedule it early. Anyone else hear of this?

Here is some info on the 39 week benchmark--- drspock.com/faq/0,1511,10513,00.html Leave in the commas but take out the spaces.

I have to agree with most of these ladies that your dr is taking the baby way too soon, the lungs might not be developed enough. If your dr had a medical reason for taking your baby out that early fine but you posted nothing that serious, as I can see. i have had 3 csections and yes they are a pain in the b___t and I have had catheters inserted when im not numb down there and they are extremly uncomfortable, I am going to ask if they can put it in when I get my spinal done. Also when they pull it out your not numb and it is mildly uncomfortable. you must be in alot of pain and im really sorry to hear that hopefully your peanut turns real soon for you :)

Hi Gavinsmom! C-sections are sometimes unavoidable but they don't have to be bad experiences. I had emergency c-section and giving birth was still the best experience of my life. I had a huge fibroid and high blood preasure and was induced at 38w3days. There was a chance that I could deliver v____aly but I also knew that most likely I will end up having c-sec. I had epidural after my water broke and 5 hrs later my baby started to show the signs of distress so dr decided to do c-section. DH was with me in the delivery room and I didn't feel anything, when dr told me that baby is about to be born and that I will fee a lot of prea__sure I just felt a tap on my belly and just a seconds later I heard him cry. I saw him right away since the table where neonatologist were was right next to my head, and DH cut the cord. The nurse was snapping pictures and DH was holding him and I got to kiss him. I was not aware that dr was stiching me up. They took me to recovery and I got a little sleepy because my blood pressure droped a bit so I took a nap, maybe half hour, at that time baby was in nursery and DH went to see him and then was back with me in recovery. They brought him back to me right when I woke up and I tried to nurse him. And he stayed with me the whole. My recovery was amazing. I didn't need anything more than ibuprofen for next three days and nothing after that. I was on my feet next day, my scar was like glued. I did have to take it easy but I think I would have to do the same after v____al delivery too. catheter didn't bother me, they put it in when I got epidural so I havent felt it and taking it out wasn't a problem either. Sneezing and coughing hurted nothing else. Oh yes and my baby was 6lb and now I know that my dr was right when he said that he will do better outside becaue he was gaining weight really fast and by his 2mo appointement he was average weight. Take care and try not to wory too much. Having your baby in your arms will make it worth.

K--Thank you so much for your story! I really hope this goes as smoothly for me. Well, I really hope the baby turns and I don't have to do this at all! Nerdy Girl--That is too funny about..they won't let you eat until you fart! That had me cracking up! Thanks for the laugh! That's really interesting about the whole amnio thing to check on the lungs. That is exactly what I was asking dh...I said to him, how do we know if the lungs are ready. The dr said nothing to us about it. It pretty much seems like the dr thinks the baby will be better off on the outside and I guess I still don't really get why. He said something along the lines of if he is out here, we have the ability to fatten him up better! What?! Is he that small? I think babies are better inside for as long as possible. I'm so confused. My dr has been extremely wonderful my whole pregnancy and this is the first time I've had to question him so much. Leilani--Thank you for sharing your story! I am beginning to feel a little bit better about everything. BUT, I still don't understand my dr's urgency to take my baby at a tender 37 weeks. I see him tomorrow and have a whole list of questions I will be asking. The day we found all of this out, my dh and I were so shocked that him and I were pretty much speechless b/c everything had been going so perfect with me and the baby. So, tomorrow, we'll be asking all of our questions. Down--I agree, I have no clue as to why he wants him out this early either and that's why tomorrow I hope to have more answers. I will let you all know! Please send some turning baby vibes my way! :)

do NOT worry. I know easier said than done. I've had 3 c-sections and have NEVER regretted it. you do get to bond with your baby, you'll get to hold him/her after recovery which isn't long AT ALL, some hospitals will let you hold the lo in the recovery room. you are not in too much pain as long as you are taking your meds. with my first 2 sections the catheter was inserted BEFORE being numb which hurt like hell but my last one was inserted after i was numb so that was great and it doesn't hurt when they take it out so be sure you tell them to insert it AFTER you're numb. Good luck.

Hi Gavinsmom! I too think that 37 is a bit early, but I think you take a good aproach by preparing question for him. If Dr doesn't think that there is any danger in leaving baby in for few more days I would insist on at least one more week. Sometimes baby doesn't thrive in the womb as she shoud. I had test to check fluid levels. That is the best indicator of how well is baby doing inside. My levels were fine so my dr decided to let my baby inside for one more week. I hope everything goes well today.

With my oldest I had a cath put in after my epi (which I had in labor). I somewhat felt it, but after that labor I barely noticed lol. With my 2nd I had the spianl first, but still felt the cath, but it was only minimally painful and only lasted a few seconds. I was alseep for my 3rd c-section and they put it in before they put me to sleep... same deal as with #2. You can always ask to have your spinal first... for some it DOES numb them and they don't feel it go in. As far as the cord, I've had it both ways. With my oldest dh did get to cut the cord (I was protesting as I was sure he'd faint when he got on "that" side of the curtain lol, but he did just fine), with #2 she got fluid in the lungs and they just had to get her out quickly and get her suctioned, so there was no time to let dh do it and with my 3rd being under general anesthesia (that was unplanned... I went in that day and found out my bloodwork showed low platelets... too low to safely do a spinal... don't want to worry you, that is fairly rare), dh wasn't even allowed in the OR, so he didn't get to cut the cord then, either.

... Oh, yeah... forgot to say I hope you get your way and they wait to do the c-section until you are further along :-)